Device for inducing a flow of oil in oil wells



l \uuuui J. v. LITTLE v. DEVICE FOR INDUCING A FLOW OF OIL IN OIL V IELLS Filed Sept. 1926 Feb. 7,' 1928.

Patented Feb. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN 'V. LITTLE, F KERTQ, NEAR TAFT, CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR INDUCING A FLOW OF OIL IN OIL WELLS.

Application filed September 1, 1926. Serial No. 133,008.

This invention relates to a device for in ducing a flow of oil in oil wells and it has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive construction of such nature that by the introduction of a source of external pressure thereinto, such, for example, as the gas trequentlypresent in oil wells, the flow ot oil from the well may be maintained.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

The figure shown in the accompany ng drawing is a partial, longitudinal, vertical section of a device constructed in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing, 8 designates the external casing of the structure, said casing being reduced as indicated at its lower end and being spanned at its lower end by a bar 1. This bar supports a spring 2 which tends to force a valve 3 toward a valve seat 4. A rod 5 which depends from the under side of a yoke 6, acts to thrust the ball from its seat against the tension of the spring. Valve 3 is closed under the action of its supporting spring to prevent the entry and accumulation of sand in casing 8 up to the time that the ejecting mechanism of the present invention is lowered into the casing 8. When this ejecting mechanism, hereinafter described and which has the rod 5 depending from the under side thereof, is lowered into place, it unseats the valve 3 and permits the oil to flow thereby. The-yoke 6 depends from the under side of a head9 which has a ground joint with the tapered portion 8, said ground joint preventing the passage of oil to the space within the casing 8 outwardly of the discharge tube 16. A head 9 carries a reduced shank 10 which is connected by a sleeve with the tube 16. The shank 10 is provided with a plurality of ports which lead from the space within the casing 8 and are provided with valve seats 11 at their upper ends, which are-adapted to be closed by ball valves 12. These ball valves act after the manner of check valves and prevent return flow'of oil, under any circumstances to the interior of the casing 8. The source of fluid pressure supply is indicated by the nipple 17 Gas, air or any other fluid under pressure maybe introduced at this nipple and will flow from the space within the casing 8 through ports 10, est valves 12and to the surface through is e tube 16. A. nipple 14 extends from the shank 10 to a point well up inside of the discharge tube 16. The rush of gas upwardly about nipple 14 brings about such reduction in pressure in the bore 13 of head 9 and in the space below said head as to induce the flow of oil upwardly, the oil being discharged through tube 16, along with the gas, to the surface of the ground. To properly pack the tube 16 with respect to the casing 8, said casing is provided with an internal flange 18 and the tube 16 is provided with an external flange 20 and packing gaskets of felt or other suitable matcrial are bound between these flanges.

It is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. The combination with an external oil well casing, of means for introducing fluid under pressure to the interior thereof, an internal casing adapted to be lowered there into, a head carried by the lower end of the internal casing for effecting a fluid tight joint between the external casin and the internal casing, by the provision o co-acting surfaces upon the said head and the said external casing at a point adjacent the lower end of the latter, a nozzle carried by the head and projecting upwardly intothe internal casing, upwardly directed ports passing through said head, leading from the space between the internal and external casings to the top of said head and discharging outwardly of said tube into the internal chamber, outwardly opening check valves at the upper ends of said ports, an upwardly closing valve within the external casing below the head, spring means tending to seat said valve under its upward movement and means carried by the head for engaging and dislodging said valve and for holding the valve in dislodged position as long as the head and associate parts are in place.

2. A device of the character described comprising an external casing and an internal casing, a head depending from the lower end of the internal casing, saidhead being externally downwardl tapered and said external casing having aring walls at a point adjacent'its lower end with which the tapered walls of the said head contact to effect luo a fluid tight joint, a member spanning the external casing below said head, said member having an opening formed therethrough which, at its lower side, is provided with a valve seat, an upwardly closing valve beneath the valve seat and co-acting therewith, a spring tending to close said valve, a member carried by the head adapted to engage said valve and unseat the same when said head is placed in position in the external easing, a nozzle projecting upwardly from said head into the internal casing and valved ports leading through said head from the space between the internal and external casing to a point outwardly of said nozzle where they discharge upwardly into the internal casing.

3. In combination, a well comprising an inner and an outer casing, means for bringing about a fluid tight joint between the lower end of the inner casing and the inner wall of the outer casing at a point adjacent the lower end of the latter under the act of lowering the inner casing", an ejecting mechanism carried by the inner casing at a point immediately above the jo nt between the said two casings, said ejecting mechanism comprising a part having an opening formed the'rethrough for the passage of oil from the lower end of the outer casing under the action of said ejecting mechanism, a spider depending from the under side of said ejecting mechanism, a projection carried by said JOHN V. LITTLE. 

